Poll – a sizable generation gap exists in America on major moral issues

March 24, 2015

A sizeable generation gap exists on nearly every major moral issue in America
today, a new poll by the Barna Research Group shows.

On issues such as premarital sex, living together before marriage and even
pornography, a double-digit gap exists between those ages 18-38 and those ages
39 and older. Smaller gaps exist on other issues.

A sizeable generation gap exists on nearly every major moral issue in America
today, a new poll by the Barna Research Group shows.

On issues such as premarital sex, living together before marriage and even
pornography, a double-digit gap exists between those ages 18-38 and those ages
39 and older. Smaller gaps exist on other issues.

For example, 75 percent of those ages 18-19 believe that living together before
marriage is morally acceptable. Sixty percent of those ages 39-57 and 41 percent
of those ages 58 and up share that same belief.

The poll of 1,024 adults asked persons about 10 key issues. Among other findings,
it reveals a wide gap between the beliefs of the general population and evangelicals.

The younger generations are significantly more accepting of the behaviors than
are the older generations.

“Things are likely to get worse before they get better – and they
are not likely to get better unless strong and appealing moral leadership emerges
to challenge and redirect peoples thoughts and behavior,” researcher
George Barna said. “At the moment, such leadership is absent.”

The poll covered the following topics:

 Abortion. Fifty-five percent of 18- and 19-year-olds (mosaics)
said abortion is morally acceptable. For people ages 20 to 38 (baby busters),
it is 48 percent. For people ages 39 to 57 (baby boomers), it is 46 percent.
For those ages 58 and up (elders), it is 36 percent. Overall, 45 percent of
all adults and only 4 percent of all evangelicals say they view abortion as
morally acceptable.

 Living together before marriage. Seventy-five percent of mosaics
and 72 percent of baby busters believe that cohabitation is morally acceptable.
That number falls to 60 percent for baby boomers and 41 percent for elders.
For the general population it is 60 percent; for evangelicals 12 percent.

 Gambling. Seventy-five percent of mosaics and 67 percent of baby
busters view gambling as being morally okay. For baby boomers, it is 60 percent.
For elders, it is 51 percent. When combining all categories, 61 percent of adults
say that gambling is morally acceptable. Only 27 percent of evangelicals say
the practice is okay.

 Having sexual fantasies. Seventy-nine percent of mosaics say it
is morally acceptable. A majority of baby busters (68 percent) and baby boomers
(60 percent) say that having sexual fantasies is okay. Only 40 percent of elders
say it is morally acceptable. Overall, 59 percent of all adults and 15 percent
of evangelicals say having sexual fantasies is morally acceptable.

 Pornography. Fifty percent of mosaics and 48 percent of baby busters
say that looking at porn is morally okay. Only 38 percent of baby boomers and
23 percent of elders believe porn is acceptable. For the general population,
the acceptance rate is 38 percent; for evangelicals, it is 5 percent.

 Homosexual sex. Forty percent of mosaics and 41 percent of baby
busters say homosexual sex is morally acceptable. For baby boomers, the rate
is 32 percent; for elders, it is 14 percent. When combining all four groups,
the acceptance rate is 30 percent. Only 5 percent of evangelicals view homosexual
sex as morally acceptable.

 Profanity. Sixty percent of mosaics and 49 percent of baby busters
say using profanity is morally okay. Only 30 percent of baby boomers and 20
percent of elders agree. Thirty-six percent of the general population and 7
percent of evangelicals view profanity as morally acceptable.

 Illegal drugs. None of the age groups surveyed were accepting of
using illegal drugs. Only 20 percent of mosaics, 22 percent of baby busters,
16 percent of baby boomers and 12 percent of elders say it is morally acceptable.
Only 17 percent of all American adults and 6 percent of evangelicals agree with
that view as well.

“Most of the people we interviewed believe that they are highly moral
individuals and identify other people as responsible for the nations moral
decline,” Barna said.

“This is reflective of a nation where morality is generally defined according
to ones feelings. In a postmodern society, where people do not acknowledge
any moral absolutes, if a person feels justified in engaging in a specific behavior,
then, they do not make a connection with the immoral nature of that action.

“Yet, deep inside, they sense that something is wrong in our society,”
Barna continued. “They simply have not been able to put two and two together
to recognize their personal liability regarding the moral condition of our nation.”
(BP)

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Editorial

By Waylon Bailey
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